Grants boost alternative transportation opportunities
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MARQUETTE - Michigan's Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) plays an important role in helping communities improve transportation options, expand pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and create safer, more accessible public spaces, according to Bradley Wieferich, the director of the state Department of Transportation.
The TAP program focuses on active transportation.
"Active transportation is people-forward," said Wieferich. "It's walking, biking and other vulnerable users in our right of way."
State Transportation Director Brad Wieferich: Credit: Michigan Department of Transportation
In March of this year, MDOT announced that it had allocated $6 million for six TAP grants, according to its website.
Additionally, the department granted funding to Marquette, Munising, West Michigan Trails & Greenways Coalition, Ottawa County and Allegan County for TAP and Safe Routes to School projects.
"As the name suggests, the program focuses on how we get people, from an alternative transportation perspective, from point A to point B," said Wieferich. "That could be new trails or new paths, but it also could be modifications to existing transportation facilities to make them safer and more efficient."
Wieferich said the department looks at "complete streets," which means that instead of focusing solely on a roadway's vehicle capacity, projects are designed to consider pedestrian traffic as well.
"We want to make sure we are looking at all users," said Wieferich. "Not just cars and trucks, but all users - whether it's pedestrians or cyclists - and how do we make sure that the projects we are developing take them into consideration as well."
The funded TAP and Safe Routes to School projects are in Van Buren, Berrien, Ottawa and Allegan counties, as well as the cities of Lake City, Mount Pleasant, Munising, Marquette and Detroit.
The projects will include separated pathways, bridges, sidewalk construction and development of pedestrian safety improvements.
According to Mike Kapp, the Office of Economic Development administrator at the department, the projects were selected through a competitive grant process.
"These are primarily for non-motorized transportation for pedestrians, bicycles and other non-motorized facilities," said Kapp.
Mike Kapp, administrator of MDOT's Office of Economic Development. Credit: LinkedIn
According to the department website, there are three application cycles annually.
"The importance is that the road system was built to accommodate cars and not so much people and other modes of transportation," said Kapp. "Congress set up this program to allow for these other types of transportation like bike lanes or separated paths for pedestrians and cyclists."
The Van Buren County, Berrien County, Detroit and Mount Pleasant initiatives all include plans for separated and shared pathways in their projects.
"It is focused on giving people alternatives to motorized transportation, as well as making the roads safer for non-motorized alternatives," said Kapp.
In addition, Marquette County, Munising and Muskegon County, as well as Lake City are carrying out Safe Routes to School projects. MDOT said they include pedestrian safety improvements such as sidewalk construction, safety lighting and more crosswalks.
"We have a planning element that works with schools and communities to determine the obstacles for kids who are walking or biking to school," said Kapp.
"This is important because the department has long been focused on infrastructure, particularly for automobiles, and that's important because people have to get to where they need to go," said Kapp. "But we also cannot neglect the other ways that people need to get around."